Component supplier and Lucas licence holder, Elta Automotive has been subject to a management buy-out.

Terms of the MBO have not been announced, nut current MD Ian Hallam, who has worked with Elta since the company was incorporated, has become the company’s co-owner, alongside long-term European partner Luxline spol. s r.o – lead by Vladimír Palacka. Ian Hallam and Luxline become equal shareholders of a new holding company, Elta Investments replacing the previous holding company, Claverdon Fields.

The formation of a newco required the existing Lucas licence to be renegotiated. Elta will continue to supply bulbs, wiper blade and switchgear under the Lucas brand in the UK and Continental Europe, but engine management products bearing the name will now be supplied by SMPE. As a result, Elta’s engine management programme will be supplied under the ‘Pro’ brand, announced last year.

“Our relationship with the iconic Lucas brand remains extremely important and will be a cornerstone of our European offering” remarked Hallam.

Elta HQ in Coleshill

“However, as would be expected, a change of ownership inevitably requires a new licence agreement with the brand owners, which is why we are particularly delighted to be able to announce that this has been secured and on a mutually positive basis for both parties” he said, adding that he was ‘thrilled’ with the prospect of a ‘significantly wider territory’ to sell the Lucas brand into.